Following the sanctions placed on Xiomera and Kerlile by Zamastan, Emperor Topilpopoca hurled insult at President Bishop in a tense press release from his palace. "We were prepared to give the Zamastanian government time to come to its senses and choose to de-escalate their aggressive and unprovoked attacks upon the Xiomeran economy. However, the dramatic escalation in Zamastanian trade aggression, combined with their recent decision to sanction our friends in Kerlile as well, have left us no choice but to implement these reciprocal actions," the Emperor said during his release. Topilpopoca continued, adding that this was "a dark day for reasonable and amicable conduct between nations" but that Xiomera would not back down from their aggressive stance towards the Republic. "We said we would not bow to foreign aggression, from Zamastan or anyone else. We meant what we said," the Emperor strongly stated.
The Emperor ordered a freeze on any assets of the Zamastanian government in Xiomera, as well as any associated entities, in a reciprocal move meant to mirror the sanctions from the Zamastanian government. The Xiomeran government also immediately implemented reciprocal tariffs that matched every current tariff, creating a near total freeze in trade.
In response to President Anya Bishop's statement in which she called him a "puppet", the Emperor retorted: "Such childish insults are beneath the dignity of heads of state. I will not trade schoolyard jibes with a mere civil servant who is pushing this aggression to look tough because she knows she is losing in her re-election bid and is willing to put her political career over the lives and well-being of both her people and ours. I have said what I need to say. I need not say any more. I have spoken, and so has the Huenyan Empire of Xiomera. It is up to the Zamastanians now what direction this matter takes."
The value of the Zamastanian dollar has dropped 2% in the wake of the duel Xiomeran-Kerlian sanctions, though experts have stated that the Xiomeran currency is dropping at a slightly faster rate as a result of the preemptive freeze on assets. It is expected that a rebound will occur if the sanctions are lifted and trading resumes, though there has only been escalation up to this point.